Sarah Billings fronts court for impersonating cop during home invasion

A meth addict pretended to be a police detective, complete with blue latex gloves and a clipboard, during a brazen robbery of a young couple with children.

A meth addict impersonated a police officer and stole two cars and household items from a house in Whittington.

A meth addict pretending to be a cop went to the front door of house where a couple and two children lived and screamed out the police were there and to open the door before stealing two cars and other items.

The would-be copper also wore blue latex gloves and held a clipboard, called her co-accused “Detective” and was heard saying and was heard saying “ETA two minutes” on a phone.

Sarah Billings (a pseudonym) was high on methamphetamine, GHB and cannabis during the offending which took place in Whittington on the morning of March 20, 2023, the County Court was told.

Billings pleaded guilty to charges of home invasion and theft and was sentenced last week to 15 months’ jail and a 12-month community corrections order.

Judge Sandra Davis said Billings, 25, along with three others after selecting a house at random at Orbit Drive where a couple and their two children lived.

Billings and one of her co-accused got out of a stolen Mazda, banged on the front door of the house and yelled “Police, police, we got a warrant, open the door”.

The couple sought time to restrain their barking dog and opened the door.

Police recovered four Apple iPhones from a house Sarah Billings lived in after she impersonated a police officer and stole the iPhones from a house and from two brothers in Whittington.

Billings was dressed in semi-business attire, wore blue latex gloves and held a clipboard while impersonating a police officer.

Judge Davis said Billings and her co-accused put all the family members in the front lounge room while the impersonators searched the house. Billings called her co-accused “Detective” and was heard saying “ETA two minutes” on the phone.

The family members realised the duo were not police officers when one of her co-accused walked out of the house with various items.

When the impersonators left the house, the couple went outside and saw two vehicles belonging to their daughter missing.

The home invasion lasted 15 to 20 minutes. On the same afternoon, police spoke to Billings and recovered two stolen vehicles, a fraudulent Victorian police identification, handcuffs, four pairs of Nike sneakers and four Apple iPhones belonging to the occupants of the home invasion.

About 15 minutes before the home invasion, Billings and her co-accused

drove up to two brothers who were walking on Solar Drive and stole their wallet, mobile phone and a debit card.

Judge Davis said Billings had not slept for nearly two weeks prior to the two offending, and was preoccupied with sourcing funds to support her drug habit.